Rivian spinout Also retreats from Kenyan e-motorcycle pilot

The project, backed by grant funding from the Shell Foundation, aimed to develop modular battery systems and purpose-built motorcycles for the African market. While the Shell Foundation initially sought to measure commercial viability and driver income potential through the partnership, the initiative was scrubbed from its website shortly after inquiries regarding its status. Co-founder Chris Yu confirmed that while the pilot aligned with the company’s mission of cost-optimized mobility, the rapid development of autonomous platforms—including a partnership with DoorDash—took precedence.

This retreat coincides with a turbulent first year of independence for the startup. The company struggled through repeated delivery delays for its flagship TM-B e-bike, a product Yu describes as a "computer on wheels." Complex supply chain constraints, including competition for raw materials used in AI data centers, stalled production and led to a period of poor communication with reservation holders. Although the TM-B began shipping in early October, the company now faces the challenge of addressing early consumer reports of technical defects while attempting to scale its commercial cargo business for partners like Amazon.